PEACTICAL FOEESTEY. 



Mahonia aquifolia and Berberis Darwinii are frequently 

 recommended as covert plants and for using in similar 

 situations with the laurel and box. Along the margins of 

 plantations or in very open places they may and do succeed, 

 but from practical experience of these plants we find them 

 next to useless as underwood in shady positions. Where 

 many thousands of covert plants are used annually, we 

 have entirely discarded them from use unless in the most 

 open situations. These plants are highly ornamental, both 

 in foliage and flower, produce berries which are much sought 

 after by game, are quite hardy, and not at all fastidious 

 about soil qualities which specially recommend them for 

 extensive use in positions at all suited for their growth. 



The barberry, more especially when planted out in rich 

 soil, and when at all confined, is apt to lose the compact, 

 branchy nature so recognisable a feature of the plant when 

 allowed ample room in the nursery border, and to assume a 

 more upright habit of growth, which is anything but desirable 

 in underwood generally. To check this and keep the plant 

 in bounds, frequent light prunings will have to be resorted 

 to, and this had best be effected during dull, damp weather, 

 as the barberry is not a good subject for the pruning shears. 

 Neither the barberry nor mahonia are adapted for planting 

 in very high or exposed situations at least, where such has 

 been tried the results have been anything but satisfactory, the 

 plants soon presenting a miserable, half-starved appearance. 



Both plants are readily propagated the mahonia, when 

 planted in loose soil and an open situation, soon covering a 

 considerable space of ground, the running roots being 

 especially active under such circumstances. 



Rhododendron ponticum, although useful in an ornamental 

 point of view, cannot be considered a first-class plant for 

 game shelter. It has, however, several good qualities which 

 recommend it for underwood, such as ease of culture, dwarf- 

 spreading habit, and immunity from the attacks of game 

 indeed, in this latter respect, it is not equalled by any other 

 plant, if we except one or two species of Daphne. It is 

 seldom resorted to by pheasants, the bottom being not only 

 damp, but such a tangled mass of branches that it is any- 



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